5 foods to make your periods better

omotolani

October 26, 2017 4:04 PM

A few dietary changes could help to make this time of the month stress-free.

If you suffer from heavy, painful periods, this is for you. Weve found a comforting way for you to handle and treat the pain better.

A few dietary changes could help to make this time of the month stress-free.

Here are five foods to eat around your period:

1. Ginger

Sipping on ginger tea may help to ease painful abdominal cramping.

Ginger manages to reduce pain as effectively as the drugs mefenamic acid (an anti-inflammatory painkiller) and ibuprofen. To make ginger tea, peel a thumb-sized piece of root ginger, slice, and steep in hot water with a slice of lemon for 5 minutes.

2. Green leafy vegetables

Kale, spinach and broccoli are all high in anti-cramping mineral magnesium. They also contain vitamins A, C, B6 and E, calcium and potassium- nutrients that have all been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms.

3. Yoghurt

Full of calcium which has been found to help ease menstrual cramps. Not only that, one large study found a diet with calcium-rich dairy products lowered the risk of developing PMS by as much as 40%. Yoghurt always contains "friendly" bacteria which supports a healthy digestive system and may help to ease persistent bloating.

4. Dark chocolate

Intense chocolate cravings are extremely common at this time of the month. Try eating dark chocolate as it's lower in sugar than milk and white chocolate, but will still satisfy your sweet cravings, and as an added bonus is a rich source of magnesium.

5. Salmon, Sardines

Studies have shown that women who consume the most omega-3s have milder period pain. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout and sardines are packed full of these wonderful anti-inflammatory fats.

Aim to eat oily fish at least twice a week, and to further boost your omega-3s, flaxseeds, walnuts and omega-3 enriched eggs are all good sources.

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